PTRW #939 DERRICK ROSE

“This whole summer I had tunnel vision. My mindset was making sure I was working out every day.”

PTRW #938 BEN JACOBSON

“We have to go to work every day to take a step forward, have as much fun as we can this year and this year be a great experience. We need to understand that each and every day takes work. We have to pile it on day after day after day to get ready for this season and have a solid foundation.”

SAM SMITH ON GREGG POPOVICH

“One of Gregg Popovich’s secrets in plain sight has been the way he builds a bench and employs them and trusts them so much during the regular season that he can rest his starters so much and still win so many games. He doesn’t have better reserves than other teams, and he loses guys regularly. But his players abide by their system of play and he relies on them and trusts them. It’s a big part of coaching (and running any successful business), making your employees feel a part of the organization and success and trusting them and taking an interest in their fate. “

PTRW #937 PEJA STOJAKOVIC

“It’s all about developing guys and playing the right way. We’re going to try to simulate the Kings style of basketball and get those guys in the best position possible so when the call comes, they’re ready.”

PTRW #936 JAY TRIANO

“We’ve talked to our players that it’s not who we play, but how we play. Our focus hasn’t been on our opponent as it has been for us to do the right things and play the right way and if we do that, that’s all we can ask of ourselves.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTIS GILMORE

RIP – MOSES MALONE

PHIL SELLERS OVER CHRIS POTTER

PTRW #935 DEVIN BOOKER

“Not everybody can be the star player. Especially on a team like that (Kentucky) with so much talent. I figured if I just found my niche on the team that I’d be good and it worked out well for me.”

“The area I grew up in, Grand Rapids Michigan, everyone was fundamentally sound. Everyone had the fundamentals but not many people were athletic. So when I made the switch to Mississippi, it was the total opposite. More people there were athletic that lacked fundamentals.”

“I figured out that fundamentals will take you a long way. A lot of people have a lot longer careers.”

PTRW #934 DARREN ERMAN

“Being on the same page is probably the No. 1 thing defensively. If you eliminate confusion and everyone knows what they’re supposed to do, it’s really simple. If everyone is on the same page, you’ll be a top-14 defensive team at least, and obviously you can get much higher. As a general rule in the NBA, if you overcomplicate things and players are thinking instead of reacting, it’s hard. But if you can keep it simple, you know exactly where you’re going to be every single time. You want to eliminate confusion and them thinking about ‘Should I be here or there?’ Just really try to keep it simple and play to their strengths.”